Lock for wrenghes



June 19, 1945- R. H. KERSHAW 2,378,854

LOCK FOR WRENCHES Filed oct. 28, 1943 locked position is shown in Figure 1 and in the full lines in Figure 2.

'Ihe simplicity of the present invention enables the locking device to be used with the Crescent type wrenches now on the market,

times be positive and eiiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed and by reason of its construction, can be operated from eitherl side of the wrench with equal facility.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted `to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described .my invention, what I Claimisr l j 1,`In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the inner side Wall of said opening being tapered, a pin extending transversely through theopening, a worm positioned in said opening journaled for rotation on said pin and having its outer end engaging .the side of the opening opposite to the `tapered inner -side wall of the opening, said worm cooperating with the `toothed rack for moving the slidablejaw with respect to the xed jaw, anda lockingwedge rotatably mounted on said pin and disposed between the inner end l of the Worm and the adjacent tapered side wall of l tapered, a 4,pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening journaled for rotation on said pin` and having its outer end engaging'the side of the, opening opposite to the tapered innerrside Wall of the opening, said worm cooperating with the toothed rack ,for moving the slidable jaw with respect tothe xed jaw, and a locking wedge rotatably mounted Von said pin disposed betweenthe inner end of the Worm and the adjacent tapered side Walloof the opening in saidheadior cooperation with said tapered side wall for lockingthe wormagainst rotation when `said locking wedge is disposed in one position, anda laterally extending ringer carried by the locking wedge for actuating the same. 3. In an adjustable wrench,a'` bodyjhaving a fixed ,jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mountedinsaid body, a toothed rack carriedy by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the inner side wall of said opening being tapered, ,aA pin extendingtransversely through the opening, va worm positioned in said 'opening journaled for rotation on said pin and having its outer end engaging the side of the opening opposite to the tapered inner side wall of the opening, said Worm 'cooperating with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, a locking wedge rotatably mounted on said pin and disposed between the inner end of the Worm and the adjacent tapered side wall o'f the opening in said head for cooperation with said tapered side wall for locking the worm against rotation when said locking wedge is disposed in one position, a laterally extending iinger carried by the locking Wedge for actuating the same, and means for preventing the outer end of the finger from engaging with the teeth of the rack on the slidable jaw.

4. In an adjustable wrench, a body having a fixed jaw thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slidable jaw, said body having an enlarged opening formed therein, the inner side Wall of said opening being tapered, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening journaled for rotation on said pin and having its outer end engagingV the side of the opening oppo- 'site to the tapered inner side wall of the opening, said Worm cooperating 'with the toothed rack for moving the slidable jaw with respect to the fixed jaw, and a locking member comprising a body eccentrically mounted on said pin for rotation thereon and disposed between the inner end l ofthe worm and the tapered side Wall of the opening in the 'body of the Wrench, the side face of the locking member adjacent the inner end of the worm being straight, the opposite side face of the locking member being tapered for cooperation with the tapered side wall of the opening to lock the worm against rotation when the locking member is in oneposition, said worm being capable of rotation when the locking member is in its inoperative position.

5. Inl an adjustable wrench, a body having'a fixed javv thereon, a slidable jaw mounted in said body, a toothed rack carried by the slida'ble jaw, said body having an enlarged .opening formed therein, the inner side Wall of said opening being tapered, a pin extending transversely through the opening, a worm positioned in said opening journaled for rotation on said pin and having its outer end engaging the side of the opening opposite with the tapered side wall of the opening lto lock 

